Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-07

cannot be considered in anywise repeal or modi
ncat10n save In the simple point OF interest OF sec
| Columbia Also the act OF the Forty eighth Con.
gress only provides for estimates In annual install
ments TO pay the money advanced but does not
| say this must be paid by increasing the water
rents. The fact, therefore, seems TO be apparent
that water rents are to go TO keeping up not es
In the statement OF the Commissioners printed
In IHR EVENING STAR OF August 9, 1887 is the fol.
| lowing: "Dunng the six years from 1880 to 1886
wefe expended $ss, o2s7o for laying water mains
there were collected as waterman taxes the sum
or little o1sI Is t1ers n was pTont 81
| It would appear that the Waterman tax not only
lays the mains but actually is source OF surplus
revenue. The statement furnished by the Com
| 2isstoners and printed in the Post August "a,
1851 SHOWS the receipts from water rents for 1887
at is Of course, perfectly obvious that from year
| TO year, as the water taxes increase, the sums
derived from the water rents increase. Under the
any increase In the rates unless there be an in
crease In the expense, not of water distribution,
but In keeping up the already existing supply OF
intention OF Congress that the expense OF water
distribution shall be borne and paid for by the
property affected thereby; that the laying OF new
AS also appears, the cos; Of laying the mains Is
less than the taxes laid therefor"
CONCLUSIONS.
From the foregoing it would seem: 1st. That
the commissioners OF the DistrictOf Columbia are
authorized to TX the water rents and to vary
them I'd That they are bound by the nmita-
lions, as well as clothed with the powers, OF chap
ter eight, X. s., d. G. Sd. That said chapter
especially restricts the sum derived from water
rents to be used solely for keeping up the water
supply. 4th. That In the last TWO years reported
on the receipts and expenditures were about
equal, practically. 5th. That the water rents, on
the Old basis, should yield at least $14O, 900 per
annum. 9th. That, as far as now appears, there
does not seem to be anticipated any Increase In
fnCp mn fho oforS ynr,lry
9TH. That the Waterman tax already existing
more than pays for laying the other mains.
Of THIS body 70 y coner VIM es On
the District OF Columbia for the sole purpose OF
obtaining from them some facts which are essen
tial to proper understanding OF this vexed ques-
ton, more especially to solicit Information On
a. WHAT Law is referred to in page % Of the re-
'2. Was the increase in water rent made to meet
anticipated increase In expense In keeping up
SO. II SO, what does such increased expense con-
sist In?
~ A detailed statement OF the expense OF water
distriDution and detailed statement OF keeping
t5. Whether after supply pipe is laid at the ex-
pense ana by citizen, the property is then taxed
SO. And for such other and further Information
as may be pertinent to the matter and they will
"Your committee would say that this report is
obviously tentative, and only contains such facts
as could be obtained without recourse to the COM
facts clearly arrant. More data is needed and
those already presented seem to emphasize the
necessity for more. Such ancillary data can only
1t was stated that under the ruling OF the chair
the committee did not need any authority to con-
Ter with the Commissioners for the purpose OF OBJ
tanning facts.
Mr.. DODGE WANTS TO KNOW
MI. W. c. Dodge said that he understood from
the report that the committee construed the law
authorizing the increased water supply to be that
the District was not required to pay One-half the
principal, but only the interest on the money ex-
pended He asked whether this was correct. lie
also inquired the committee had ascertatned
whether the District had as yet paid any part of
the principal
Mr. sINGLRroN's REPLY.
MI. Singleton replied that the understanding Of
the law by the committee was that it did not con-
template that rents be increased to pay the prin-
cipal but only that the rents be sufficient to pay
the interest on 0ne-hal OF the principal In addi-
ton 10 maintaining the old system as well as the
new system H. there be any surplus 1t is to be
covered into the Treasury toward paying the prin-
cipal As TO hether any OF the principal has been
would have to seek Information from the Commits
stOners on this point
THE COMMITTEE ON STEAM RAILROADS NOT READY
Mr. c. B. Church, from the committee on steam
to submit their report; that they were looking I'D
legal points, and also desired to consult with the
District Commissioners.
MT Lewis clepaane submitted report recon-
south and northeast sections OF the city.
MORE POLICE
report was submitted from the committee on
law and order recommending that ten men be ad-
ded to the police force for the section OF the Dis
trct outside Of the city limits and Also that all
city laws, which would be applicable to the
county, be extended to cover the section outside
OF the city limits
resolution was submitted by Mr.. A. J. Curtis
recommending that the city laws be extended to
the section outside the city limits and especially
those In regard to the discharge OF firearms RE-
isrred TO the committee on law and order: lie
referred TO the large number OF cases recently re-
ported OF ACCIDENTS from the improper use and
handling OF firearms. Mr. curtis also ofIered a
erected about the building outside Of the public
school buildings which was referred to the COM
Communications from Association No. in re.
gard TO paving certain streets, from Association
NO IN reference TO streets and avenues, and from
Association a; Ne; IN regard to Improvements Of
streets, were received and referred.
PROPOSED ADDRESS.
Mr. Singleton offered the following, which was
adopted:
Resolved, That the chair appoint a committee
composed OF one from each delegation to consider
and report upon these propositions:
1. Whether 1t be not expedient for this commit
tee to issue an address the people OF the limited
states setting forth the correlation OF the people
Congress.
2. II such be deemed expedient, then to report
at an early date draft Of an address.
RELATIONS OF TIE DISTRICT 10 THE UNITED STATES
Mr. Singleton In explanation said that In travel
ling about the country he found the densest ignor-
ance on the par1 OF intelligent people in regard to
the status OF the people OF the District and their
reiaCons 10 Congress and the people OF the country
he tnOugnt that II would be q good idea to pre-
pare statement setting forth the facts.
MI Dodge warmly endorsed this resolution and
relerred 70 the ignorance that prevailed on this
subject, which extended all the way from mem-
DISTRICT He thought that the resolution ought to
go further and that in the address to be PREPARED
the Government should be requested to assume In
whole or In part the District debt, which was
double, per capita that OF any State in the Union
inc chair appointed the following committee
Is t. Cn1rcn, w; C Dodge, w. J. Frizzeil, John E.
herreu Jonn 7. MITCHELL 8. N. Golden, A. 4. BRIT
toos h a. flsn, and Jesse b. Wilson.
SUPPRESSION OF CRIME.
MI. Dodge offered resolutions in regard to the
suppression OF crime and, especially, the habit OF
carrying concealed weapons; favoring the estah.
ltshQent OF free baths and swimming schools. ASH
Ing Congress- 70 provide for and publish text books
for the public schools In the District and the Terri
committees S~SS'
On motion OF Mr.. Robinson. the committee on
law ana order was constituted an executive com
miItee 10 Orlng the matter or the increase of the
police force before the proper author1fieS - '-''
On motion OF Mr.. Frizzell, the committee ON
SCHOOLS was directed to report at the next mess
ing, upon the needs OF the school on the Bladens-
T6s committee then adjourned, to meet in two